Yoga, mental health and stories of a yogini.

The transition from one year to the next is pregnant with possibilities. It is my favorite holiday of all. A time for gratitude for what has been and excitement for the future. I love making a new year’s resolution each year. Oh yes, I have made silly or unrealistic resolutions in the past, but with each passing year came a fresh try.

I am happy to say my skill for making resolutions has improved. Resolutions or commitments to oneself can be powerful tools. Last year I pledged to try to approach life ‘without fear’. Of course there where days I fretted and worried, but as a whole I believe I succeeded. I dove in head first and made decisions with gusto. It was liberating and empowering. It felt so good and rendered such positive results, that I wondered why I had waited so long to try such an exercise.

With confidence on my side, accomplishments came with greater ease. It was like I finally got out of my own way. Authenticity of self was an unexpected side effect.

This year I have decided to have more FUN. It may not sound like a resolution at all, but I think it may be one of my most challenging so far. How do I plan to do this? Below are a few of the ideas I have, but I would love to hear your suggestions. Or maybe share some of the ideas you would use to infuse more fun and enjoyment into your life.

Begin playing around with aerial dance and aerial yoga.

After BSU graduation take a ‘walk about’.

Wear more of my handmade and altered clothing.

Take weekends off just to play (not get caught up on housework!)

Spend more time outdoors.

Continue to try to be fearless!

I thought I would share this with you in hopes that my love for resolutions would be contagious. Throw out anxiety about picking the perfect resolution. This is one thing that really is all about you. There are no rules. Just look into your heart and go for it, if it doesn’t work out just pick a new one. Who will know unless you broadcast it across the internet.

I have been really enjoying Brad Warner’s blog. If you are interested in Zen, but have felt intimidated by what you have read, you might like Brad’s approach. To say the least he is rather laid back and not what one would expect of a Buddhist monk.

Below I have listed my current favorite reads. All the links are active to amazon so you can get the low down on cost, reviews and other related books. Remember nothing is sexier than someone who reads!

Finding a bit of stillness and calm can be a real challenge during the holidays. I believe it is important to try our hardest to keep our ‘to do’ list short. Streamline, simplify and choose to do something everyday that will help recharge your batteries. I know these are suggestions that can be almost impossible to put into action. Below are some things I have personally done this year.

Give less presents and give more thanks. Spending less money on the holidays has kept my stress level lower and allowed me to stay more present in the moment.

Allow myself time alone. Having the time to recharge my batteries makes it possible to really listen and connect when I am with family and friends.

Indulge in the luxuries of the season, but in moderation. I have found it important to not let all my self-care fall away. Of course I will eat some chocolates, but I don’t need the whole box 😉

Read some heartwarming books. Reading is so important to me. It is one of my self-care activities that I must have.

Drink a cup of sleepy-time tea each night.

Yoga!

There are so many things that we can do to make the holidays less stressful and more fun. Most crucial is to figure out what part of the season makes you feel good and light-up inside. Emphasize those activities and let go of the rest. Everyone will thank you for it, because if you are happier they will be too!

There is a great tutorial on pranayama at the site below. Click on the demo at the bottom of the page. It has a visual tool that I would never have thought of, but found it very helpful. Have fun, relax and watch the tension just slip away.

Below are some collaborated teaching notes from a workshop that I facilitated last month. It was such an inspiring experience to share my work with fellow yoga teachers.

Emotional Yoga Workshop Wisdom

• Guide the student inward and then let them settle into Being.
• Simplicity can energize and lift the spirit.
• Breath and Movement can give the mind a break.
• Drawing from the outward to inward brings us into Center.
• Love and Laughter is always good medicine.
• Slow waves soothe the Soul.

Deep breathing is not just relaxing; it’s also been scientifically proven to affect the heart, the brain, digestion, the immune system. Research has shown that breathing exercises can have immediate effects by altering the pH of the blood, or changing blood pressure. Read NPR’s whole article or view a video at the link below.

Some of you have heard about my ‘gypsy yogini’ tour idea. The idea is to get outfitted with the least expensive RV possible with the best gas mileage possible and tour around the country teaching free yoga classes to those in need. I was thinking this would be a ten-year plan, but I just bought a camper! It is not as luxurious as the little motor home I had planned on, but it was much cheaper. It has the basics, smells clean and was cheap. Can’t get much better then that. I will be working on fixing up the interior and getting it all ready for summer use. I will share pictures as the process develops. Watch out USA, here I come!

I wanted to post a nice little summary of my experiences while at Esalen. Well, this has been a more challenging task then I expected. Those of you who know me personally know it takes something pretty extreme to make me speechless. So I have decided to share an excerpt from my journal….just a short bit that I wrote after a session with Hala that moved me deeply. Keep in mind this was stream of consciousness writing & my intention is just to share a piece of myself openly. Thank you all for listening.

Shedding Shame & Guilt

Shining light into the shadow.

What do I see, why do I see it?

It does not matter, for the process of grief has begun.

Healing begins and the shadow itself becomes part of the light.

Acceptance of self exactly as I am, still looking inward and outward with curiosity.